Salary Cap: Pens '23-'24 Salary Cap Thread: "Mandrake, do you recall what Clemenceau once said about hockey"

[OnMyOwn]

Sid only makes like 3 mil a year in actual money right now because of the front loaded contract he signed last time.

3x8.7 would be a huge raise, haha. I can’t see that 10.5 number happening.

 

[Ulf5]

Don't worry, Pens are going to win every single game from now to the TDL, not sell, and then not make the playoffs. End 11th. Have to give the 1st to SJ. Not have a 1st this year.

This is the Penguins way.

Love the avatar, hate you.

 

[Turin]

Wonder if Van is desperate enough to get rid of Mikayev. Smith for Mikhayev and a 2nd?

 

[Sideline]

Why not? That's additional assets if we take on Campbell. Those are are precisely the types of contracts you take on during a serious rebuild.

If Edmonton is sending their next 4 first rounders and Campbell for Jarry, sure.

 

[Nakawick]

Well, 6 games before the deadline. Next 4 out west then 2 at home. They need to keep plugging away, with or without Jake or whomever else.

 

[Turin]

Well, 6 games before the deadline. Next 4 out west then 2 at home. They need to keep plugging away, with or without Jake or whomever else.

A western road trip to not only make or break the season, but potentially alter the direction of the team for years to come.

Nbd.

 

[Nakawick]

I still think Dubas and the Pens will shoot their shot again next year regardless of this year or if Jake is here of not.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I kinda wish that Rakell was having a strong year so they could sell him and re-sign Guentzel instead.

Unless they're fully sold on Rakell being Crosby's LW going forward, I'm really not all that excited about where Rakell fits on this team, especially with Guentzel gone.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Today was a prime example of how Sullivan just doesn't understand how to take advantage of anything. You have a team that apparently wants to make the playoffs, according to Sullivan.

So naturally you don't put in the goalie that has stellar numbers against the Flyers this season? Also that 4th line abomination is just, this is a game where Phillips would have feasted on the forecheck with plugs like Acciari and Harkins. Carter looked like each shift was 5mins long for how slow he was. Ruhwedel was out of position a ton as well and just looked like a player that is 5yrs into over staying his welcome at the big leagues.

Dubas needs to address Sullivan with the Malkin usage. Moving him to Wing and going for a center is the move I would look at, at the deadline. IF you can find a team that has a solid young C that is just itching to make the NHL asap, that's the bloke I would be looking at for Guentzel. I think with another 1st and adding something like that, losing Jake and making Geno wing isn't as bad, you get some cap space to work with in the summer to made deals with teams that can't afford the RFA's they have and want to recoup something for them as targets vs the free agency pool, you definitely move Reilly Smith and whatever he's become under Sullivan.

Malkin did look ok last season when he didn't have his wingers shifted around so much, he started to really find some chemistry with Zucker during his stretches of being healthy-ish and for long stretches had Rust on his wing when Rakell was doing well with Crosby. This season the flip flop and then usage of the wrong players just didn't help Malkin at all. He looked ok to start the season when Smith looked ok as well, Malkin was fine pretty much up until December, then the wheels fell off the moment Rakell and Rust were back and Puustinen was dropped down, it looked like Malkin had finally found some jump again during a lull before that, then as usual, the status quo Sullivan loves so much began.

• October - 30 shots in 9 games (5 goals)
• November - 25 shots in 13 games (5 goals) - Rust missed 3 games, Rakell missed 5 games.
• December - 41 shots in 13 games (4 goals) - Rust missed 10 games, Rakell missed 7 games. Puustinen is called up and tried with Geno, his shots went way up.
• January - 29 shots in 11 games and he has 2 goals while Puustinen was taken off his wing as Rakell and Rust were healthy by then and Sully is gonna Sully...
• February - So far in 9 games he has 19 shots, 0 goals...19 shots 0 goals is rough.
  • In the last 2 games when Puustinen was promoted to that line - Doc has 7 shots and 2 goals, Puustinen has 4 shots and 2 assists, so those 2 are at least helping, but Geno is just insanely off his game where it doesn't even matter how well those 2 are playing, it's not giving him the kick in the rear it did in December.

First 35 games, Malkin had 31pts - 14 goals.
The next 20? 2 goals and 13pts.

I feel like he's just checked out under Sullivan, there's a lot of players on this roster that are, but none more glaring than Malkin, his body language, the way he's handling the puck. It's sad because the final week of December he was still on fire with 3 goals in 3 games, even Puustinen who was taken off Geno's line by then was setting up beauties to Zohorna and Eller while scoring one himself and then Sullivan decided that was enough and tightened up the usage.

I wouldn't be against Zegras if Sullivan wasn't here, under Sullivan I have zero faith in Zegras progressing as a player. The skill is there and moving him to Center to move Geno to wing and throwing Puustinen as the RW, that line really could work or even if you dropped Rust to L2 and went Rakell-Crosby-Puustinen. I mean maybe you risk that move anyway with a deal to Verbeek for Zegras to just use Jake as a means to eat more cap to get more back for Zegras.

If the Pens retained 20% on Guentzel in the deal, then Anaheim retained 50%, that's going to get them an incredible return on Jake while the Pens get something good as well. I'd take that risk and maybe Dubas sees Sullivan tanking Zegras and says enough finally.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Malkin isn't checked out with under Sullivan, he's just not nearly as good as he was before. He's a 65 point 2C and 65 point 2Cs go through rough patches every now and then.

I like pairing him with 2 young guys in O'Connor and Puustinen to give that line some youthful energy, because Malkin has absolutely lost a step from where he used to be.

 

[ChaosAgent]

I kinda wish that Rakell was having a strong year so they could sell him and re-sign Guentzel instead.

Unless they're fully sold on Rakell being Crosby's LW going forward, I'm really not all that excited about where Rakell fits on this team, especially with Guentzel gone.

I am very lukewarm on Rakell, but I think he's a good 3rd wheel on a Crosby line. He and Malkin have never been productive together.

I agree with you that his value is pretty bad right now, it would be a "change of scenery" swap most likely.

I wonder if Rust to DRW for their 1st and Robby Fabbri. That's a place Rust would waive to since he's from there. Then we could re-sign Guentzel. Make Fabbri the 3C.

Edit: also, we take salary coming back so we don't have to burn a retention spot for 4 years on Rust.

 

[Nakawick]

If we move Jake and Smith, DOC tops our LW depth.

 

[Gurglesons]

I kinda wish that Rakell was having a strong year so they could sell him and re-sign Guentzel instead.

Unless they're fully sold on Rakell being Crosby's LW going forward, I'm really not all that excited about where Rakell fits on this team, especially with Guentzel gone.

If Rakell was played with Sid like Guentzel is played with Sid, he'll produce pretty much like Jake IMO.

 

[ChaosAgent]

If we move Jake and Smith, DOC tops our LW depth.

DOC is already > Smith.

Presumably we'd get some other LWs in here as well in the offseason.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Malkin isn't checked out with under Sullivan, he's just not nearly as good as he was before. He's a 65 point 2C and 65 point 2Cs go through rough patches every now and then.

I like pairing him with 2 young guys in O'Connor and Puustinen to give that line some youthful energy, because Malkin has absolutely lost a step from where he used to be.

Yeah, I think this is just Malkin wrestling with age. I do think there is a scenario where he figures it out a bit and has a couple more years of being a very productive but not as dynamic player.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I kinda wish that Rakell was having a strong year so they could sell him and re-sign Guentzel instead.

Unless they're fully sold on Rakell being Crosby's LW going forward, I'm really not all that excited about where Rakell fits on this team, especially with Guentzel gone.

Rakell has produced at the same rate as last season since he returned from his injury.

19pts in those 26 games. If you're looking at his overall stats without taking that under consideration, you're not seeing the whole picture mate. He was dreadful to start the season with 4 assists in 17 games, but since then he's been at a 60pt pace in his 26 games after the injury.


"Rakell has been terrible...." - Not.

 

[vodeni]

Malkin isn't checked out with under Sullivan, he's just not nearly as good as he was before. He's a 65 point 2C and 65 point 2Cs go through rough patches every now and then.

I like pairing him with 2 young guys in O'Connor and Puustinen to give that line some youthful energy, because Malkin has absolutely lost a step from where he used to be.

he is 65 point cenetr but his +/- hasn't been as good as its now in along time...he spends now half of his time behind our net playing defense...he has not join the rush in a long time since he does not have that step and he is playing deep, he adjusted his gam just fine...he is still in the top of the entire NHL for assists for scoring chances/60 minutes...that tells me that maybe if he has a bit better wingers he may be 80 points guy, also if he gets set up on PP well I am not even going there...

Geno is still plenty good L2 C for $6M, he is not the reason why we won't make playoffs...

and you are absolutely right about not being checked out...not sure what HoG is seeing but thats not the guy who checked out...

 

[Empoleon8771]

he is 65 point cenetr but his +/- hasn't been as good as its now in along time...he spends now half of his time behind our net playing defense...he has not join the rush in a long time since he does not have that step and he is playing deep, he adjusted his gam just fine...he is still in the top of the entire NHL for assists for scoring chances/60 minutes...that tells me that maybe if he has a bit better wingers he may be 80 points guy, also if he gets set up on PP well I am not even going there...

Geno is still plenty good L2 C for $6M, he is not the reason why we won't make playoffs...

and you are absolutely right about not being checked out...not sure what HoG is seeing but thats not the guy who checked out...

I wasn't saying "he's a 65 point 2C" at this point to say "he's a bad player". He's still a good player, he's just older and has declined from where he has been in the past.

Anyone who says he's a bad player at this point is judging him based on what he used to be, not on what he actually is at this point.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Maybe Rust being out opens up cap room for a TDL acquisition at wing?

Assuming Doobs doesn’t have the balls to trade Guentzel.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Maybe Rust being out opens up cap room for a TDL acquisition at wing?

Assuming Doobs doesn’t have the balls to trade Guentzel.

I am curious who Sullivan pushes up in the line-up to fill Rust's spot. I think it'll end up being Phillips or Bemstrom, or with our luck, Jeff Carter or Harkins.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Maybe Rust being out opens up cap room for a TDL acquisition at wing?

Assuming Doobs doesn’t have the balls to trade Guentzel.

Exhibit A for why they need to do everything in their power to move on from Rust. The guy cannot stay healthy. And that's saying something considering the team he plays for.

 

[Zbynek]

Rakell has produced at the same rate as last season since he returned from his injury.

19pts in those 26 games. If you're looking at his overall stats without taking that under consideration, you're not seeing the whole picture mate. He was dreadful to start the season with 4 assists in 17 games, but since then he's been at a 60pt pace in his 26 games after the injury.


"Rakell has been terrible...." - Not.

Yea, he's been overhated this year especially after his great season last year. His goalscoring is down this year, it's also down for a lot of talented players across the league. It happens, but I don't feel he's fallen off a cliff. He has proven he can hang with Sid and there's a big value in that.

Plus, there's no real upside to trading Rakell. His contract is fair, it's not a cap hit you need to get off the books. We won't squeeze crazy value out of him. Move him and you just need to replace him with another top-6 cog. Much rather move Smith who has struggled to fit in (and who Sully refuses to give a shot with Sid because he's too far down the pecking order).

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Exhibit A for why they need to do everything in their power to move on from Rust. The guy cannot stay healthy. And that's saying something considering the team he plays for.

He did play 81 games last year.

But overall yeah, he misses a ton of games. He's only ever played more than 80 games once in a season and once for 70+. They would need to ask him to waive his full NMC for this year (he has 1 more year with that and then nothing). I don't know if Dubas would strip the top 6 of both Jake & Rust.

 

[pistolpete11]

I am curious who Sullivan pushes up in the line-up to fill Rust's spot. I think it'll end up being Phillips or Bemstrom, or with our luck, Jeff Carter or Harkins.

Smith - Crosby - Rakell seems like the obvious choice.

So probably not that.

 

[Phil68]

he is 65 point cenetr but his +/- hasn't been as good as its now in along time...he spends now half of his time behind our net playing defense...he has not join the rush in a long time since he does not have that step and he is playing deep, he adjusted his gam just fine...he is still in the top of the entire NHL for assists for scoring chances/60 minutes...that tells me that maybe if he has a bit better wingers he may be 80 points guy, also if he gets set up on PP well I am not even going there...

Geno is still plenty good L2 C for $6M, he is not the reason why we won't make playoffs...

and you are absolutely right about not being checked out...not sure what HoG is seeing but thats not the guy who checked out...

Geno realized he doesn't have the proper offensive linemate also, so he is playing a more defensive game. A two way 2 C. Now i can bet money if Geno gets an actual offensive winger he might change back to a more offensive play.